Rattler 250 trophy one of the most unique in short track racing

The Rattler 250 may feature the most frightening prize in
the history of short track racing — just ask 2015 winner Christopher Bell.

Like all the winners before him over the past decade, Bell
received a trophy that contained a coiled replica of a rattlesnake after
defeating Harrison Burton and Chase Elliott that afternoon. He also had to pose
with the real deal in Victory Lane and the picture of his face during the
proceedings made national headlines.

“I’m not a snake guy, but I guess I can handle that one if
it means I’m here in Victory Lane,” Bell said afterwards.

But his face told a completely different story.

Matt Weaver | STS

The tradition dates back to the inception of the race nearly 40 years
ago as a sister event to the City of Opp Rattlesnake Rodeo. Both events
had snake handlers, beauty queens and of course … the snake itself.

This was expanded in 2005 when Jason Hogan won the first snake head
trophy for his victory. That design has since been modified from a head
in a glass case to an entire coiled up rattler. Combined with the winner
having to pose with the real thing, second place might be the real
winner Sunday.

Bubba Pollard won the race back in 2012 and honestly doesn’t remember interacting with the fanged serpent.

It might be emotional scarring.

“I still don’t like snakes and don’t want nothing to do with them,” Pollard said. “If we can win our second Rattler, I think it will be pretty cool and pretty special. Back then I was younger and I really don’t remember it much, but I don’t think we were very good that year. I think we have better race cars and are more prepared now, so it would be a lot more special to us.

“But I don’t deal well with the snakes. About a couple of feet is the closest I’m going to get to him; he can stay at the front of the car and I’ll stay at the rear of the car and we’ll be just fine.”

Back when he was an active driver, Ross Kenseth made his feelings quite clear.

“The best snake is a dead snake,” Kenseth said. “Winning the Rattler is a huge accomplishment but it’s hard to balance that with the fact that you have to get in there with a rattlesnake.”

Defending Snowball Derby winner Noah Gragson attending the race last season as a crew member for Carson Hocevar and may have left more scarred than any driver that came before him.

So @NoahGragson is not taking this whole snake demonstration thing well. He gets a solid A for trying though.@HBurtonRacing is giving him all kinds of crap for it.

“If I were leading this race on the last lap, coming to the checkered, I would act like it was running out fuel,” Gragson said. “I would come over the radio and say ‘I’m coming to you, boys.’ I would give it to second if I were leading this race. But all jokes aside, hopefully I get the chance to come down here some day and race it.”

Jeff Fultz of FURY Race Cars won the race back in 2010 and declined to take a picture with the snake. He wants to win the trophy again, but still wants no part of the snake.

“A few years ago, when I won that deal, they wanted to
put that snake on my shoulders and I told ’em no way, keep it at arm’s length
to take the photo and get it out of there; I hate snakes,” Fultz said.
“Of course, at my age, if we win this thing again I might ask them if it
bites and how long before it takes effect. I might just be willing to risk
going out on top.”

The race will pay at least $12,000-to-win at a minimum, depending on the number of entries, but the poisonous exchange rate on Sunday might have someone second-guessing their life choices coming to the checkered flag.

“You might see a little less hesitation coming out of Turn 4 if the snake was lined across the start-finish line,” Pollard said.

Friday is the practice day for the Southern Super Series Super Late Models while qualifying and the Pro Late Model Baby Rattler is scheduled for Saturday night. The Rattler 250 itself is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET (2 p.m. local) on Sunday afternoon.

The entire Rattler 250 race weekend will be broadcast online via Speed51.com’s 51TV pay-per-view service. Sunday only will cost $24.99 while both days run for $34.99.

Matt Weaver is the owner and founder of Short Track Scene. Weaver grew up in the sport, having raced himself before becoming a reporter in college at the University of South Alabama. He is also the associate motorsports editor of Autoweek Magazine and its website, which allows him to cover the highest levels of the sport.